It's okay not to be okay

The way to live in the present is to remember that "This too shall pass" When you experience joy, remembering that "This too shall pass" helps you savour the here and now. When you experience pain and sorrow, remembering that "This to shall pass" reminds you that grief, like joy, is only temporary. Joey Green

2020 for most of us has been a year of radical changes in our private life styles, working lives and our emotional wellbeing, the constant changes we are experiencing play havoc with our sense of equilibrium and happiness, unable to make concrete plans for anything, trying to learn to be more flexiable in our attitudes, and maybe its getting used to being a little more, spur of the moment personality type,  or making the most of and appreciating the simple things life has to offer. So is time to cut yourself a little slack and realise that it's ok, not to be okay all of the time in this strange new world we have to live in.

Accepting that "it's okay not to be okay" is a start, acknowledging that it's ok to feel uncertain, have self doubt, scared, lonely, emotional or sad, having a sense of grief or pain for what has been lost in your life or may not be in your life for somtime in the foreseeable future. No one can be perfectly happy all of the time, but getting through our difficulties and ignoring that they exist are two completely different things. Actively allowing ourselves to  feel our feelings can show us the impermence of them, helping us to heal our emotional wounds. Is this a comfortable process? absolutely not but esstenial for our personal growth. The mindfulness concept of leaning towards and investigating our discomfort with intentions of self-compassion, loving kindness and non judgement in the present moment, can help us through the process of finding the answers, to what we are actually feeling inside. Each one of us is unique and we will all have different coping strategies, finding the healthy option is sometimes the most challenge part of this process and sticking to our regular routine wherever and whenever possible will also help. Other mindfulness practices, yoga, journaling, colouring, going for a run, deep breathing, talking with our family or friends, there are so many  helpful ways of letting yourself feel what you are truly feeling inside, learn to be patient with yourself and heal, let those not okay days be like passing cloud, you can't see the sun but you know its there. Our lives will always be filled with ups and downs, but this is what shapes us into being the people that we are.

"Love yourself, accept yourself, forgive yourself and be good to yourself, because without you the rest of us are without a soource of many wonderful things" Leo F Buscaglia